Sam Cooke's Death On Radio (Dec. 11 2009)

[DrNSalmon]

Sam Cooke's remarkable voice and artistic talent was a gift for the ages. When his life was taken, that gift was stolen from all of us. Whatever the facts of his death are, it could not have been a "justifiable homicide." For more details of the mystery of his death go to trutv.

[swilson2101]

Excuse me for saying dis but I was very disappointed when I found out that Bertha was a Black woman, come on now. Im sure she knew who he was, she was in on him getting robbed, Dis man pulls up in a red Ferrari. With a known prostitute Elisa Boyer, she say that she took his cloths by mistake after she claim he tried to rape her... But he get up to go to the bathroom and she take his shit & split. And the money plus his license wasnt found in his wallet. But it was a justified homicide. Bullshit

[veeseee128]

The other theory is he busted up in the managers office and was not wearing any pants or underwear, his genitalsl exposed and hes demanding to know the whereabouts of some woman. sam was crazy.high as a bitch. He grabbed the woman, what woman wouldnt have shot him. He asked for it. Should have kept his pants on.

[veeseee128]

Some say he tried to rape this woman and she shot him dead. this may be what happened because when the police found cooke he was slumped down on the floor naked, except he was wearing a sports jacket and shoes. Ive seen the photo. Why was he naked below the the waist if he was trying to rape her? mmm?

[jtmo096]

Why would Sam rape a girl for? Wouldn't it be the other way around lol. But on a serious note, some people say it was a mob hit and I think that's true because Sam was too powerful and on top of that he was black. Back in these days people weren't having that.

[wmall7]

My feeling is that both Bertha Franklin and Elisa Boyer were working for someone else. You have to remember at the time of Sam Cooke death he was the teenage sensation, The country loved him. The problem with the power structure is that he was not white. You see, he stood out over the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and that was a problem my friend.

[melloprod]

If you getting raped and get a chance to leave-the last thing on your mind is clothes! He went into the bathroom and she stole his money and clothes-robbery!! He fucked up when he tried to break down the managers door though! She must wasn't a Sam Cooke fan or had no idea who he was.

[simonsez0800]

@melvin123 33 i belive

[423jaws]

This is a wicked world, the more happiness you bring, the more love you share,tragedy will find a way to wreck them that enlighten us.

[yeshuahfullofit]

Just a goddamn shame. Such a waste. He meant so much to so many people that he never met. His life touched mine. He lives in me. I hear him still. RIP Sam. RIP.

[UndergroundRaww]

It it clear that he was set up to be robbed, but killed? I looked at the pics and it is more or less consistent with Franklin's testimony.  I am sure that she may have gotten hit off with the money, but killing the guy may not have been the intent. Cooke made a decision that many of us do. We have time ti think and we start to turn away, then our emotions get the better of us and then there is no turning back. Better to die young than to grow old and get played out.

[SoulGirlTamara]

Bother to read Peter Guralnick's meticulously researched book on Sam Cooke all you Crazy Conspiracy Theorists instead of making it up for yourselves.

RIP Sam. He made bad judgements but he didn't deserve to die like this, and yes, of course his race was a factor in 1964. He was let down by the judiciary

[jerri4u2]

there is one that know the whoooole story He will let us know what is "justifiably" nuff said?

[Refining1]

@jerri4u2 EXACTLY... we know who that person is, and He is the only righteous judge. And trust, Sam WILL have his day in court after all is said and done.

[veeseee128]

Stupid bitch, she didnt have to shoot him. He was a good lookin guy why does he have to break down a door to find a woman. he was a famous singer. He must have been on drugs or somthing.

[MrSoulSamCooke]

@veeseee128

Unless this case gets re-investigated with there will always be unawnsered questions,

and speculational theories.

Sam Cooke stayed away from drugs, he drank but so did nearly everyone else in the festivities on his final night fact is the girl was a prostitute, Sams drummer said Sam wouldnt have known,

prostitutes know how to play tricks the money trick is an oldtime trick,

Cooke falls short eachtime this tragedy of his death is mentioned it makes him look

like an angry rapist

[melvin1123]

@MrSoulSamCooke how old was he when he died

[Criscilla241]

@veeseee128 : he broke down the door because the girl stole his clothes and money. Thats why he only had on a blazer and footwear, which of course alarmed the hotel manager. That ruse has been around for years. Sam wasnt on drugs

[mnj331]

@veeseee128 thats not the true story dude..he wasn't shot and killed..he was beaten to the point where his head was decapitated from his shoulders, his nose was crushed, and his hands were bruised. if he was shot in the chest why would his head be gone? theres too much to this story...

[TOOREALize]

The voice of an angel. So young at death. 33yrs 3 fatal gunshots. SAM COOKE

[dnbsuze]

the case should re open, forensics should be used, I don't know, why but it seems clear he was murdered. People got away with these crimes in the 60s, especially against black people. We know that now, so why has nothing been done? The system is corrupt and has rivers of blood on its hands, and change STILL needs to come

[Refining1]

@dnbsuze It SHOULD be RE-OPENED. And from what I understand, the people who were going to reinvestigate his death spoke with SAM'S WIFE, who married his guitar player just over two months after his death, and she told them not to reinvestigate. I'm not suggesting that his wife was guilty of anything (I know nothing about her), but that just doesn't sound right.

[HearingLossProvider]

@Refining1 she was probably scared into keeping quiet about the whole thing.

[shydmples]

I say that the whore and the hotel manager set it up....that's all.

[1976tech]

Hum? Something seems very fishy about all of this.

Do yall really think sam had to rap a girl?

1964 humm?

motel Hum Hum?

[Refining1]

@1976tech OKAY... I didn't even know that much about Sam Cooke (still don't), but the first time I read that story (not too long ago), something seemed way off about him being a drunken naked monster, banging down a motel door, trying to finish raping his kidknapped prostitute??? I mean I can just look at the man in videos and see that that's out of his character. Women would've busted down a door to get to him, not the other way around. Not to mention the manager changed her story 4 TIMES?

[AncesterFound]

@Refining1 ''Women would've busted down a door to get to him, not the other way around'' I agree with that statement 100% :)

[McMillian5]

Nothing will ever minimize his incomparable talent.

[Yeroen]

Such a sad thing that this guy doesn't live anymore. Even though Sam was already dead for more than 20 years when i was born, i still cant get enough of him..

[PrinceOfSoulMusic]

I made the photo at 1:28 and posted it on my myspace page "Soul Legends"

[iamlabelle]

I just read the story about the Late and Great Sam Cooke. THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY TO KILL HIM, AND THERE ARE TWO REASONS EITHER IT WAS TO DO WITH THE CONTRACT OR MONEY. I AS READ THE MSG BELOW I BELIEVE THAT ALSO AND I BELIEVE ALSO WHEN THAT WHORE RAN TO THE MANAGERS OFFICE I BELIVE SHE RAN IN MAYBE TO HIDE THE MONEY THEN RAN TO CALL THE POLICE. GRABING HIS CLOTHES WAS BY MISTAKE I THINK THERE WAS MORE TO THAT. BACK IN THE DAY IT WAS EASY AND BETTER TO KILL SOMEONE OVER MONEY EXAMPLE SELENA.

[tbursee]

Well his family feels like he was shot some where else because he would not sign with another music company , and brought to the hotel , put a whore at the scene to make it look like robbery. Sam stumbled out the room and the henchmen still in the parking lot , realizing he was still alive pushed him in the clerks office and beat him to death. The clerk was just an innocent by stander. She quit her job, moved back home and died a year later. just look at what really makes sense,

[kmld33]

Sounds like a set-up. Prostitute trying to rob a trick. Bottom line. It could be more to it but they say he wasn't wearing any pants or underwear when he ran in after the woman.

[lepoetress]

@kmld33

The photo of how the police found him with the suit jacket on shows he was clearly naked. They say Boyer took his pants when she ran out of the hotel room.

[2506106]

that bitch killed him on purpose when all she had to do was shoot him in the legs

[MrSoulSamCooke]

The actual bullet itself was in his system already

just one shot hit him thru his side right under the armpit

the shot he had looked just like the style of killing that mobsters did and Muslim henchmen did to kill people

and myself judging his body position in the picture, it proves to me he could not have got shot then wacked with a broom then beat and end up with a Broken nose and broken hands an then be slumped on the wall like that. It Doesnt make sense at all

[MrSoulSamCooke]

Let me add that that Was ONE Betha Franklin's 4 stories she told there's just secrets hidden and questions unawnsered

and though he was one of the best singers

and perhaps the GREATEST male Vocalist (the inner richness of his voice is uncompairable)

but that doesn't mean old jury people

will care about the dead man in late 1964

let me say it again 1964!!!!!!!!!!!

it's just sad only Sam himself could greatly defend himself and tell his story I feel more people then a 55 year old lady killed him

[1mayeye2]

Unfortunately, nothing was proven. Probably never will be. Nobody came forth with any other evidence that shows Franklin a liar & others' involvement. The chest wound is visable on photo & also bruises on the casket photo (if it is ever posted again). Autopsy revealed he was intoxicated. Witnesses said they were drinking for hours.

[lepoetress]

@MrSoulSamCooke

I heard that too; she told various stories. The Grand Jury from what I've read on crimelibrary/sam cooke was a joke. They let everyone (Boyer and Franklin) off. It was rumored that Franklin may have been pimping Boyer out and they were splitting the money.

[lepoetress]

@MrSoulSamCooke

I had heard for yrs. that she didn't even open the door; she shot through the door and he took a direct hit to the heart. Supposedly he said, "Lady, you shot me!"

[lepoetress]

@MrSoulSamCooke

I've hear mobsters because he owned his own production company (I think) and if I remember correctly, he was the 1st or among the few Blacks to own their own company during that time. Alledgedly, they wanted to buy him out and he said no. The other theory was Franklin and Boyer being in cahoots and things went wrong when he confronted them about his missing items. Unless Boyer is still alive and talks, we will never know.

[1mayeye2]

plot to kill him. I don't. I think he was drunk & understandably angry, & didn't think she would shoot. If he was clear headed, he probably would've told her he was robbed. About the Islam newsletter, my guess is that was the influence of good friend M. Ali who had not yet announced he would become a muslim & change his name from Cassius Clay. It was an unfortunate occurrence that should've been investigated more. Details will always be an unsolved mystery.

[lepoetress]

@1mayeye2

The theory was 1 of 2 things - robbery gone wrong or, a mob hit because he did not sell/get a partner for his record label and publishing company. I think they say he was the 1st or 1 of a few who owned his music outright and was NOT about to give that up. I hadn't heard about the NOI newsletter.

[1mayeye2]

@lepoetress I will always think it was a robbery gone wrong unless someone produces hard evidence of something or someone else's involvement. Neither of the women should have got off scott free. Just another injustice which unfortunately continues today.

[lepoetress]

@1mayeye2

I feel you. If you went to crimelibrary/samcooke, you'll see how they wouldn't allow them to even mention that Boyer was a hooker. I think they thought they were protecting his family and fans by not telling it all. Back then, they liked to wrap stuff up quickly. They had 1 theory and they weren't straying from it.

[lepoetress]

@1mayeye2

They said Ali made a statement that was considered controversial for the time. I'm not sure if I'm quoting it right, but it went something to the effect, "If this were Pat Carroll, they would've investigated this." I think the person he referred to was a white actor/tress.

[d820m]

@lepoetress What Ali said was, "if it had been Elvis Presley, or Frank Sinatra or any one of the Beatles, sombody would have been in jail by now"

[lepoetress]

@d820m

Ok. They have been bring that Pat Carroll statement up in the shows I've watched. They really didn't investigate cases well then and from what happened with the singer Bobby Fuller, if you were a rock and roller, you didn't fair much better.

[1mayeye2]

Etta James said his face & head were beaten & bones of his hands broken. The casket picture shows bruises. Someone coming at you with a solid wood stick at great force would do this & the natural response is to put your hands up to protect the head. Bertha Franklin was not a small woman & she stated that she shot him first & then beat him til he fell. The autopsy showed the shots penetrated both lungs & heart, cause of death would be from internal bleeding & heart damage. Etta believes it was a

[1mayeye2]

NYVoice, she did make off with his cash (that was never found) and faked the whole kidnapping story. If you research much of what's been written, you'll have a change of opinion.

[thegirl44]

I remember reading the biography of one of the women of Motown, I want to say that it was Patti Labelle but I'm not absolutely sure, and in it she said that Sam's body in the casket looked as though he had had his head knocked clean off.

Why would she say that about her friend if it weren't true and assuming that it is true how does a little old lady with a broom manage that?

I think that the Nation of Islam newsletter in the backseat of Sam's car was the calling card of a braggart.

[lepoetress]

@thegirl44

If you go to crimelibrary/samcooke, it has a whole lot more info and photos. There is a photo of Sam, crumpled on the floor, with the exception of a suit jacket, butt naked and looking like he had a Rodney King style beating.

[lepoetress]

@1mayeye2

The woman had a history of violence. They say she served time for stabbing a boyfriend to death. A show I watched said she either was in jail/released from jail in '78 and had not been seen or heard from since.

[1mayeye2]

@lepoetress Thanks for replying with this. I had not heard that but often wondered what became of both women. That is certainly believable because she did not have to aim to kill, she could have chose to shoot his kneecap to stop him and he would still have been with us.

[lepoetress]

@1mayeye2

You're welcome. I feel you about that. I just find it hard to believe that woman did all that damage with a broom handle. I'd love to know who got that settlement money after Franklin died. The thought is Franklin & Boyer were working together and this time, they messed up.

[ShayW125]

LOOOOOOOOOVE HIM SOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[NYVoice]

My take on this incident has always been the same. Perhaps Ms Boyer was no angel but didn't SHE call the police? If she "rolled" Sam then she'd have disappeared with his dough. Sam had a bad disposition to alcohol and was not exactly holding it together. He should NEVER have put himself in that position. Why THAT hotel? It was beneath him. So was cheating. You wanna avoid trouble? Don't step outside the boundaries. That said, Sam was an innovator, a rare talent and should thrived for decades.

[TheMidnightBell07]

Hey, here is something no one considered. Maybe it wasn't his idea to go to that hotel. I don't think any of what has been said is true. I don't even think the hotel was the original place the crime took place. I think he was forced to go there and then was murdered.

[NYVoice]

I dunno Belle; apparently he had been there before- a convenient place of anonymity where no one would question his identity. It was just low class. Sam could have frequented a safer environment (a la Tiger dare I say). Keeping it real doesn't guarantee one's safety. Then again, cheating has it's price. Sam was only human we know but unfortunately irresponsible in this case. You can't revise history. I wish he'd never met the girl quite frankly.

[TheMidnightBell07]

Hey, people say a lot of things. Where is the proof he actually did all these things? Where is the proof he'd been there before or was even a cheater. He toured with a religious group at one time and that's not to say he was perfect but why is all that stuff coming out after his death? Why were pamplets from the nation of Islam in his car? Why did he look nearly decapitated when he was shot in the chest? We have DNA and resources now and I believe we need to reopen this case.

[lepoetress]

@TheMidnightBell07

It was said while he was alive that he was a womanizer. Alledgedly, that is the reason he and his 1st wife divorced.

[TheMidnightBell07]

@lepoetress Hey, I don't believe the older lady killed him. I believe someone set him up to be killed. This is what I think happened: He probably went to the hotel and met with the young lady for whatever reason. She stole his wallet, more as derversionary tactic than anything. He went went chasing after her and came across the office of the older lady. Someone was laying in wait for him and you know the rest.

[lepoetress]

@TheMidnightBell07

I feel you. Like I said before, 2 theories were floated - robbery gone wrong and a mob hit. Now that I think about it, it could've been a combination of the 2. The Grand Jury inquest really didn't do much but sweep his death under the rug. They (Grand Jury) took the easy way out just to wrap up the case. Boyer should've been charged with something.

[lepoetress]

@TheMidnightBell07

I concur, but I bet evidence has been long lost/destroyed, people are dead or can't be found and if the family doesn't want to open it up, they probably won't do it. Unless a cold case unit does it with/without permission, it won't get done.

[lepoetress]

@NYVoice

They said she did that as a cover. She said Sam raped her; nobody bought it. That place was supposed to be where you could do whatever and not get caught/told on.